Thaiday not concerned about 'sooky' teammates

SEASONED finals campaigner Sam Thaiday has played down concerns over several players who have missed or cut training short, calling it maintenance control before the Broncos' sudden-death clash with the Gold Coast on Friday night.

"I'd much prefer to see them out on the field on Friday than training today,” Thaiday said.

"They've done enough to prove themselves to Wayne (Bennett) and they'll be fighting fit and ready to go Friday.

"They're all a bit sooky having a carry-on. They'll be fine.

"We're just looking after them. Semi-final football is a very high intensity, so we'd rather have boys 100% on Friday rather than bash them out there on the field at training.”

McCullough is receiving treatment for an ankle injury, while Glenn said he didn't train after feeling some tightness in his groin.

Thaiday said he was looking forward to playing in a local derby final after the Broncos recorded five wins on the trot to finish the regular season.

"We have fought our way back into a bit of form and the Titans have been a team that has hung tough all year,” Thaiday said.

"Hopefully we can pack out Suncorp Stadium and show those people down in Sydney how to do a semi-final.”

Brisbane plays most of its games on Fridays, which will help its preparations, but Thaiday said the Titans had a reputation of having a "fair dig” in every game they played.

"People like to call us the Friday night Broncos and we'll take that tag,” Thaiday said.

"It's not our fault we're popular and people want to see us on TV.

"The Titans have been a team who weren't expected to make the eight but they fought and clawed their way into the finals.

"It's semi-finals footy and anything can happen and they're in the same boat as us. It's do-or-die for them as well.”

Thaiday said the Titans had a big physical pack, with Ryan James the "heart and soul” of the side in recent weeks, and veteran Greg Bird would be hunting Brisbane's halves Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford.

"They've been great down the middle,” Thaiday said. "James has put his hand up as a senior leader and he is a bit of a go-getter at the moment. So there's another great challenge for our forward pack.

"Bird will bring plenty of aggression. He'll be trying to rock up our halves and he'll also be trying to ball play. That's the style and brand of footy Birdy plays week in and week out.”

The Titans face a huge task to avoid being the first side out of the finals given their record at Suncorp Stadium is 1-13.